Man arrested in connection with Masoyi CIT heist, remanded in custody

A 22-year-old man has been arrested and remanded in custody following a cash-in-transit heist near Masoyi on March 19.

The Hawks’ provincial spokesperson, Capt Dineo Sekgotodi, said Sandiso Ngomane (22) had been arrested by the Nelspruit Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team and Nelspruit crime intelligence on Thursday April 7.

The suspect appeared in the KaBokweni Magistrate’s Court on Friday April 8, where he was remanded in custody.

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“It was reported that on Saturday March 1 at 09:00 a Fidelity armoured vehicle, without an armed escort, was travelling from Mbombela towards Masoyi,” said Sekgotodi.

She said approximately one kilometre before the Masoyi Police Station, the armoured van was rammed by a vehicle with an unknown number of suspects inside it.

“The driver of the armoured vehicle lost control and went off the road.” She said there were three occupants inside the van, the driver and two crew members, when the incident occurred.

“The two crew members’ sidearms were stolen. The armoured van was bombed and three safes were forced opened. An unknown amount of cash were taken. One of the crew members was slightly injured and treated on the scene.” said Sekgotodi.

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She said the car which had been used to ram the cash-in-transit van was found on the scene and was totally burned out.

“The case was handed over to the Hawks for further investigations. Through the Hawks and Local Criminal Record Centre, the suspect was linked to the case through fingerprints and a Section 212 statement (a statement from state laboratories) was obtained.”

Sekgotodi said Ngomane was expected to appear back in court on April 19 for a formal bail application. She said investigations into the matter are still ongoing.